rpbooks Chapter 437 After Returning
Chapter 437 After Returning
Konoha Village was bathed in the peaceful morning light.
The atmosphere in the village was calm and normal. There was no unusual gathering in the direction of the Hokage Building, and the ninja patrol rhythm remained unchanged.
The neighbors' conversations remained the same: everyday matters, gossip about tasks, or the unusually bright star from yesterday. There was no news of any earth-shattering event like the "resurrection of the Fourth Hokage" that could have shaken the entire village.
Minato followed the advice and chose to remain in hiding for the time being. This was in line with Minato's cautious and thoughtful nature, and it also gave Kushina and himself some private space to adjust.
However, in Naruto's inner world, the familiar and warm chakra fluctuations from Minato had disappeared.
It did not dissipate, but naturally returned to its original form.
With the complete resurrection of Minato's physical body and the complete return of his soul, this lingering mark returned to the complete existence of Minato Namikaze.
Naruto felt no disappointment as he sensed that the energy node within his body had become somewhat "empty".
He's been with me for years... But now, Dad should go and spend more time with Mom.
She had waited too long.
Now, only two "residents" remain permanently inside Naruto's body.
First, there's the Nine-Tails. Regarding the complete departure of Minato's chakra, their attitude is…
"Hmph, finally gone. He got off easy. Good thing he's gone, now it's peaceful!"
The tone was harsh and full of disdain.
After several years of "cohabitation," Kurama's attitude towards Minato remains a complex state of "mutual dislike but barely able to get along."
For Kurama, Minato's departure was like a disliked but familiar neighbor moving away.
The situation is much more complicated for the other "resident".
Otsutsuki Urashiki.
This alien visitor, who once looked down upon the ninja world as mere ants, now appeared dim and listless in his consciousness.
He is currently... very confused.
The initial plan was to wait for Naruto to become mentally relaxed or seriously injured and lose consciousness before attempting a counterattack and possession, or to patiently lie in wait and hope that other members of the Otsutsuki clan would come to his rescue.
But after witnessing and experiencing firsthand Naruto's subsequent leaps in power and his actions, those plans seemed as ridiculous as childish fantasies.
Why...why did the natives of this inferior planet become so strong after absorbing my power?!
Pu's understanding is collapsing.
Creating reality?
These abilities are also legendary in the evolutionary history of the Otsutsuki clan! In the clan's records, there is a legendary being who devoured countless chakra fruits, ultimately undergoing a final transformation in his life form, ascending to godhood, abandoning his physical body, and going to the Otsutsuki Shibakai in a higher dimension—he is only vaguely described as having authority similar to "creating reality"!
When Naruto fully embraced the power of Reanimusha, Urashiki felt the same way—the sublimation of consciousness, the sign that he was about to break free from the three-dimensional material world and leap to a higher dimension.
That is a qualitative change in the level of life, a clear signal of advancing towards the realm of "God"!
However, what Urashiki found most unbelievable and even terrifying was that Naruto refused.
He forcibly altered his own "imminent dimensional ascension" reality, re-anchoring himself to this mortal world he deeply loved, a world composed of flesh and blood and emotional bonds!
In order to remain in this world... he gave up becoming a "true god"?!
This choice exceeded all of Urashiki's understanding based on the logic of plunder and evolution by the Otsutsuki clan.
Power, levels...aren't these the ultimate pursuits? Why would anyone give them up for the sake of so-called "bonds"?
The conclusion drawn from this sent a chill down Pu Shi’s spine.
If Naruto chooses to stay in this world... then what would the high-ranking members of the Otsutsuki clan, the so-called strongest fighters of the "main family," be like in front of him?
Urashiki could be certain that if Naruto wanted to, if he had just a thought, those Otsutsuki clan members who had not yet reached the realm of "gods," no matter how many came, no matter what kind of eye techniques or secret treasures they possessed, would probably be easily wiped out like dust.
What is my own consciousness, which has already been captured and had its power drained, compared to this being?
Ants? Dust? Or... something insignificant, not even worthy of special attention, a "past tense"?
What will happen to me?
This question haunted Urashiki's mind. Wait for rescue? Hope was slim. Attempt to resist? It would be tantamount to suicide.
A profound sense of confusion overwhelmed him. His once clear goals had all vanished, and he saw no way out for the future.
Ultimately, under the weight of confusion and mental pressure, Pu Shi made a choice similar to many beings trapped in dire straits—to escape from spiritual nourishment.
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Inside the Hokage's office.
Jiraiya, unusually dressed in a relatively formal shrine robe, sat behind a large desk.
His face no longer held its usual playful and lazy demeanor; instead, it displayed a rare solemnity.
Naruto Uzumaki stood in front of the desk, his eyes calmly fixed on his master.
After a brief silence, Jiraiya slowly spoke, his voice low and deep.
"Naruto..."
He had barely begun speaking when Naruto immediately picked up the conversation.
"Master Jiraiya, I know that playing with life and death and reversing the natural order are taboos to many people, and even a desecration of the laws of nature."
"However, it is not a puppet technique like the Impure World Reincarnation that blasphemes the dead. It is a true resurrection, a reconstruction and return to the origin of life."
"I know what the 'pure land' after death is like. There... there is nothing. There is no feeling, no time, no companionship, only an eternal, cold nothingness and stillness."
He looked directly into Jiraiya's eyes, his tone resolute.
"Therefore, I will not take back the decision I have made. Let those who should come back come back; there is no point in them staying in that place that is 'not worth staying in'."
Upon hearing his disciple's words, Jiraiya smiled with a mixture of helplessness and relief. He raised a hand and waved it.
"Uh...no, you misunderstood."
He leaned back, trying to ease the tension.
"I know you're a good child, you respect life more than anyone else, and you understand the pain of loss better than anyone else. Besides..."
Jiraiya's eyes deepened with emotion. "This entire village owes you. They owe you a carefree childhood. I believe in you; you would never recklessly or carelessly abuse this power that transcends reason."
He spoke from the heart. Jiraiya considered himself a master who knew Naruto's character well, and he trusted Naruto's judgment and temperament.
Of course, not everyone in the village thought the same way he did.
For example, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, whom he forcefully removed from their senior advisor positions on the grounds that "they are too old to enjoy their retirement."
Just as they learned that the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, "might" return in some way... the source of the information was, of course, a test leak deliberately released by Jiraiya.
It seems those two old guys still have spies here; we need to clean them out again.
These two old fogies rushed into the Hokage's office immediately, slamming their fists on the table and shouting at the top of their lungs, their faces red and necks bulging, spouting clichés like "Manipulating life and death is going against the will of Heaven! It is disrespectful to the deceased! It will disrupt order! It must be strictly controlled or even prohibited!"
Jiraiya, who had served as Hokage for several years, dealt with this situation in a simple, direct, and efficient manner.
He summoned the Anbu directly under the Hokage and, on the grounds of "disrupting the Hokage's work," unceremoniously threw the two former advisors out.
They also strengthened the "protection" around their residences, making it clear that the Hokage was handling the matter entirely and that they no longer needed to "worry" about it.
Starting last year, Jiraiya gradually diminished Shikaku's political abilities and used Tsunade's support in medical care and reputation to sideline Koharu and Menreiki.
Just a few months ago, he finally succeeded in getting these two old guys, who were from the same era as the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, to "voluntarily" submit their complete retirement applications, thus cleanly and decisively driving them out of the core of Konoha's power.
Whenever he thought of this, Jiraiya couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Look at those three generations of old men, now they walk their ninja dogs every day, play shogi, enjoy their grandchildren... and do things that I want to do but can't."
They live such leisurely lives, they never bother to interfere at the Hokage Building. You two old guys from the same generation, how dare you cling to that little bit of power and just cause trouble?
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(Oh my god, thank you so much to the "Invincible Powerful King" boss for the gift king and the expert certification! Thank you, boss!)
(The author will try to update more chapters for the next few days)